Health and Human Rights Flashcards
What does education provide?
- The ability to get a job
- Social skills
- Sense of community
- Hygiene and sanitation
- Knowing your rights
Why is education a necessity to develop?
- The need for basic hygiene and healthcare
- Ways to control family size (better manage resources so that education, etc. is available to all)
- How to be involved in decision making (to be able to represent a group/population and advocate change)
- Their rights in the 21st century (fight against discrimination and champion for further development and equality)
Why is basic hygiene and healthcare important?
- To ensure good health within a population
- More likely to work and contribute to economy and society
Education facts:
- In 2013, 59million children did not go to primary school
- In 2013, 65million did not go to secondary school
- In 2015, 69% of countries had equal access to primary education
- In 2015, 48% of countries had equal access to secondary education
- In the Sahel, girls are twice as likely to not attend school than boys
Reasons for variations in health and life expectancy in the developing world:
- Food (1 in 9 do not have access to food)
- Sanitation and hygiene
- Clean water
- Infant mortality/ maternal mortality
- Differences in deprivation (access to free healthcare, housing)
- Cost and effectiveness of healthcare
Reasons for variations in health and life expectancy in the developed world:
- Differences in lifestyle (diet/obesity/smoking)
- Differences in deprivation
- Cost and effectiveness of healthcare
What is the healthcare system and life expectancy in the UK vs US?
USA:
Private healthcare, 78.1
UK:
Public healthcare, 81.6
What are human rights?
Fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled, simply because they are a human being
What should human rights be?
- Applicable everywhere
- Egalitarian (equal)
What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
- Established in 1948
- Contains 30 articles, which form the basis of our human rights
- It was formed in response to atrocities in Nazi Germany
- 48 countries were in favour of the declaration
What are the advantages of the UDHR?
- By implication, all 193 countries have to recognise it as legislation
- Clear to understand
- Sets the ‘standard’
What are the disadvantages of the UDHR?
- Not legally binding
- Some countries believe it is ‘too westernised’ and have not signed it
What are some example of rights on the UDHR?
Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in both dignity and rights
Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude
Article 18: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and religion
Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
What is the European Convention of Human Rights?
- Convention comprises a number of articles, each setting out a specific human right
- Aim is to achieve a greater unity and a realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms
- The European Court of Human Rights was set up in 1959 to ensure countries adhere to the ECHR
- It is legally binding
- High proportion of cases awaiting trial means many people do not have their cases seen to (medical dilemmas)
- Some believe the court is a loss of sovereignty
What is the Geneva Convention?
- Series of international diplomatic meetings took place to produce a number of agreements in warfare
- Article 3 prevents torture and hostage taking
- Protects people not taking part in conflict as well, including civilians and prisoners of war
- Ratified by 196 countries and is legally binding
Why is the Geneva convention especially important?
Most atrocities occur during war time and human rights are most vulnerable here compared to peace-time
What are the downfalls of the Geneva convention?
- Country abiding may have an unfair disadvantage (unfair war)
- Lots of countries have broken it historically (82% of countries- America, Guantanamo Bay)
- Not all countries agreed to all protocols
What factors can cause variations in human rights?
- Governance (plays into religion)
- Conflict
Human Right violations in China:
- 1million Uyghur Muslims dead or missing
- In March 2020, the UN expressed concerns for a human rights lawyer who has been subject to ‘enforced disappearance’
- Tiananmen Square massacre 1989, 3000 troops mobilised and several thousand killed
- In August 2020, Shanghai Pride announced that all future activities had been cancelled
- Extreme censorship
Human rights successes in China:
- Lifted one child policy in July 2021
- Are beginning to take cases to court
- Signed up to 6 of 9 core human rights treaties
Human rights successes in the UK:
- Created 1998 Human Rights Act
- Laws support Human Rights
- Have ‘protected classes’ in the 2010 equality act
- People able to seek justice in court
Human right failures in the UK:
- Minority group still often disadvantaged
- Large wealth gap
- Women still paid less than men
- Gay conversion therapy still hasn’t been banned
- Legislation introduced making it harder for young transgender people to transition
How does high corruption threaten human rights?
- Corruption reduces level of trust
- Systems become unfair and support groups with power, or even prosecute the poor and other disadvantaged groups
- May affect economic system through favouritism of businesses and may also work against health and safety laws
Systems against corruption:
- Corruption summit held in 2016 in London
- UN convention against corruption established in 2003
- Meeting decided that corruption should be exposed, the corruptors punished and the victims supported
- Recognised that corruption was at the heart of many world issues
In 2015, what percentage of countries had serious corruption problems?
68% of the 168 countries surveyed (corruption perception index)
Human Rights Violations in Indonesia:
- Children as young as 8 are working
- 40% of children die before the age of 5
- 91% of the population believe the government is corrupt
- Unlawful killings of LGBTQ+ people
- Political oppositions are imprisoned
- 18,000 disabled people subject to physical and sexual abuse
What is development aid?
- Aid that is often in the form of money, which is allocated for specific purposes
- In the 21st century it is heavily politicised and often used to support countries combatting extremism, such as Afghanistan or Syria
- It is also used to help control migration into Europe, given to countries like Turkey or Nigeria
- It is also often given to countries after natural disasters
Why is development aid significant?
- Allows countries to solve social issues
- Allows development of infrastructure
- Doesn’t harm innocent civilians
Why is development aid not significant?
- Put countries into debt
- Can be politicised
- Money misused
- Other factors (trade embargos)
Development aid facts:
- Bolivia received $US670million in ODA in 2014 and since 2000, life expectancy increased by 7.6 years
- G7 countries agreed to spend 0.7% of GNI on international aid
- UK only stopped providing India in 2020/21 despite its growing status as a superpower
- In 2012, UK donated £86.8million to help people in Somalia, ranked the most corrupted nation in the world
- In 2014, 18% of EU aid was for ‘government and civil society’, which includes human rights and 18% was for Humanitarian Aid in response to disasters
What are trade embargos?
- Foreign policies or laws that ban exports to and imports from a country in protest against actions by that country
- Usually more beneficial with multiple countries
- Strategic goods and technology, especially military arms and equipment are banned from export
- Exports of medicine and food are allowed to continue
- The US trade embargo against Cuba imposed in the 1960s (communism support) cost Cuba around $685million a year and capped its development
Advantages of trade embargos for source (creators) vs charge country (imposed)
Source: -Less risky than going to war -Reduces country's economic potential -Less expensive Charge: -Rise in domestic goods -Severe economic implications can be enough to bring about regime or attitude change
Disadvantages of trade embargos for source vs charge country:
Source:
-Minimised market accessible, especially with a large population
-US lost out $1.2billion a year in the Cubs trade embargo
Charge:
-Less jobs and investment caps development, meaning civilians themselves lose out
-Usually leads to democratic fall out
Cuba Trade Embargo Case Study:
- US trade embargo imposed on Cuba in 1960s after Castro’s support of communism
- Cost Cuba around $683million a year and restricted its development
- US also lost out in the embargo which was estimated at $1.2billion a year
- In 2016, Obama lifted the embargo
Why is military action successful?
- Can bring about improvements in health and human rights
2. Better than doing nothing
Why is military action unsuccessful?
- Collateral damage
- Can worsen human rights
- Things go wrong
- Other factors are better
Afghanistan War 2001:
- Retaliation after 9/11
- America led military assault on Afghanistan
- Aim was bombing raids to destroy terrorist camps of Al Qaeda
- Led to 2175 military deaths
- Cost US military $100million a year
- US accepted 90,000 refugees from Afghanistan
- 149,000 estimated civilian deaths
- Bin Laden found in Pakistan, which stirred controversy
- War seen as largely unsuccessful as many had to answer for what had happened
- Under Taliban rule about 1.2million students were enrolled in school, with fewer than 50,000 girls
- In 2013, there were 10.5million million students attending school in Afghanistan, however the gender mix still isn’t equal
- Afghanistan has experienced 4 plus regime changes in the last 50 years, including American Occupation in 2001
- Little to no stability has therefore been created
- Civilian government restored in 2014 but large number of assassinations and suicide bombings means there’s been little peace
- The US and UK stopped combat operations in 2013 and the Taliban have no regained territorial control
Iraq 2004 War:
- Saddam Hussain was responsible for the genocide of 180,000 Kurds using chemical weapons
- War resulted in removal of Hussain’s regime
- Removal of Hussain created a power vacuum which allowed Isis to seize power and grow in size
Srebrenica Massacre:
- Worst mass killing on European soil since WWII
- July 1995
- Muslim Bosnians were fleeing Serbia
- Serbia carrying out genocide against Muslims as well as other inhumane treatment
- UN safe zone in Srebrenica was protected by 600 lightly armed Dutch soldiers
- Dutch soldiers failed to both demilitarise the Bosnian Serb Army and defend Srebrenica
- Army captured town and killed most Bosnian Muslims in the area
- 8000 Bosnian Muslims were killed
What is Edmund Burke’s saying?
All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing
What does the success of geopolitical intervention depend upon?
- Perspective of groups involved
- Was the primary aim of going to war achieved
- Do the changes seen align with what is wanted by people in these countries
How can success of geopolitical intervention be measured?
- Corruption Index
- GDP
- Literacy Rate
- Gender Equality Rate
- Access to basic needs
Why might military action not be used?
- Reliance on geopolitical relationships (Saudi Arabia/China)
- Threat of worsening situation or MAD (North Korea)
What is direct military action?
Armed forces from one sovereign state engaging in conflict in another sovereign state. Often done when several countries act collectively
What is indirect military action?
Military equipment/military advisors are provided from one sovereign state to another, for another military group within it. Usually done in support of one group in a civil conflict.
What is a downside of indirect military action?
- Could create an unfair war
- Funding can backfire e.g. Mujahideen warriors funded by US, became Al Qaeda which then carried out 9/11
Guantanamo Bay:
- Prison used in the US naval base in Cuba 2002
- Used to hold extremists and terrorists viewed as posing a threat to the US
- Hundreds of prisoners, mostly captured in Afghanistan and Iraq were held in detention without charge or access to the US legal system
- Prison was increasingly criticised and condemned by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the EU for the abusive treatment of prisoners
- Violations of Geneva convention and Military Code of Justice
- At least 40 prisoners remain
- By 2009 it was clear that torture has been used on terrorist suspects and President Obama demanded that the institution be closed and the prisoners be tried in US court
- In 2013, prison held 166 detainees, which has now been reduced to 40
Disadvantages of Military Aid:
-Aid may be given to gain influence in a country or key region
For example:
-USA supporting Jordan in order to gain a foothold in the region
-Russia supporting the Assad regime
Military Aid:
- May be in the form of technology and equipment, or peacekeeping forces, such as NATO or UN
- Purpose is to help a country defend itself, to counter insurgents or support pro democracy fractions within a country against extreme authoritarian regimes
- Usually given to countries who have poor human rights records
- In 2015, the USA provided military aid to 63 countries through its foreign military funding policy
- Israel was the biggest recipient despite its aggressive policies
- In 2016, a new agreement was formed to provide Israel with $40billion to update Israel’s air force and missile defences, under the condition that they provide ‘dignity and self determination for Palestinians’
Military Aid in Jordan:
- Within Jordan, there are issues regarding human rights
- Accepted refugees from Syria but denied Palestinian refugees entrance and detained and deported those who did enter illegally
- Government introduced new laws, threatening freedom of speech
- Torture occurred frequently but was no legally recognised by judicial system
- In 2014, USA renewed a 5 year aid package which provides $360million in economic assistance, $300million in foreign military finance and $340million for cost caused by instability such as looking after refugees
What is the impact of geopolitical intervention on national sovereignty?
- Sovereignty decreases as countries become too dependent on NGOS (Haiti Christian Aid)
- Sovereignty decreases as countries lose control over government due to removal of regimes (UN forces took over Iraq in 2004 so civilians had no say in Gov)
- Sovereignty increases as development aid provides tools for country to become independent
- Sovereignty increases as interventions leads to improvements in health and human rights so civilians have more control (more educated in Afganistan)
What is national sovereignty?
Independent nations have an organised government and are self-contained and have a right to exist without other nations interfering e.g. controlling laws and legislation
Response to Ebola in West Africa in 2014-2016:
- NGOs such as MSF were first in the area to respond to the Ebola crisis
- MSF set up 15 Ebola management and transit centres which dealt with 8534 patients
- Also shipped 1400 tonnes of medical equipment and with 530,000 protective suits
- EU provided almost $US2.2billion in aid
- 28% of the money was allocated to medical research projects and industries to search for a vaccine
- EU hosted conferences to educate affected countries to improve their health system and reduce their dependency on development aid
- WHO aims to prevent further outbreaks through laboratory testing, advice and training, and engaging communities
Haiti Development Aid:
- Haiti has received aid for a prolonged period of time linked both to poverty and common natural disasters
- There is a plethora of NGOs in the country with aid money totalling an estimated three time the national government budget
- Dependency on aid has been created amongst people and the government
- NGOs provide 70& of Haitian healthcare and 85% of schooling
- Local jobs have been lost to aid workers, very little is being done to show local people how to help themselves
- Locals not consulted about what they want and need so aid organisations are perceived as meddling and deliberately keeping people poor
- Great contrast between quality of life of aid workers and residents
Christian Aid in Haiti:
- 77% of the population live on less than $2 a day
- Have provided 237,000 hot meals, 10,000 hygiene kits and 7000 with clean water
- Health spending in 2010 amounted to $46 per person with just 21% of the funds from the government
- Despite new homes, better roads and schools, living standards had decreases after 2010 event and recovery
- In 2015, 85,000 were still living in emergency tents
Development Aid in Cote D’Ivoire:
- UN agencies brought in humanitarian aid for refugees and IDPs
- The new government pledged to investigate human rights abuses and produce disarmament plans
- UN Food and Agriculture Organisation provided seeds, tools and fertilisers
- In 2016, the UN stated that its aim was to allow the country to become an emerging economy
- With an average growth rate of 9% since 2011, this is a possibility especially as structural reforms have allowed an international and private sectors
- Military action removed Gbagbo and replaced him with a new president so it was a mix of various strategies
- Democracy had been broken down and human rights abuses, especially freedom of speech, were taking place
Explain the role of the European Convention of Human Rights:
- Improvement on UN declaration by making it legally binding and violations can be taken to court
However, cases can take up to 3 years to be seen, creating slow progress which questions its success - Has set a standard for other European countries to follow when creating their own laws
e.g. 1998 UK Human Rights Acts adopts same theses of ECHR
However right wing parties across Europe fear that such a centralised system has the potential to threaten national sovereignty
Human Rights in Afghanistan:
- Rank 43/147 for human rights violations
- Girls banned from going to school
- Maximum penalty for same sex marriage is death
- 60% to 80% of total marriages are forced, involving 2 million girls
- Sunni Islam majority
- Women must be accompanies by men
Human rights in Myanmar:
- 300,000 internally displaced people
- Displaced people put in detention camps with poor hygiene and short supplies of food and water
- Military rape
- Women and children trafficking of refugees
- Government shut down internet on June 21 2019 to block civilians speaking up about situation
Human rights successes:
- USA 1st amendment grants all US citizens freedom of speech, press and religion
- Australia has special acts in place against age, racial and sexual discrimination
- Australia part of 7 of the core human rights treaties
- Rwanda healthcare free to poorest % of population
- Rwanda has one of the best gender equality records in the world
- UK has protected classes in equality act 2010
North Korea:
- Controlled by authoritarian rule
- Rule by the Kim family sine 1948
- Voting takes place but for only one option
- Controls laws, censors TV and radio
- Opposition carries severe punishment, such as torture
- Violence against women and children is extremely high, no proper laws to protect them
- Rural poverty is extreme with populations often neglected
- Authoritarian rule often carries poor human rights record due to uncontrollable and undisputable power over people, controlling education and stopping people from speaking up
- Currently 80,000 to 120,000 people in Prison Camps
Better than doing nothing facts:
- Currently 80,000- 120,000 people in prison camps in North Korea
- Isis has 31,000 fighters
- Saddam Hussain killed 180,000 Kurds using chemical weapons
- Edmund Burke ‘The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing’
